Testimonials

If you are an active practitioner in the field of international development, ... the SID Washington, D.C. Chapter is a 'must' group for you. No other organization follows the unfolding events of development as closely or completely...

I joined SID-Washington because it offers a collaborative platform for sharing good ideas, strategic relationships and innovative solutions that are critical for developing effective responses to the challenges of globalization.

I am very grateful to SID-Washington. As a 30-year member of the organization, I applaud SID-Washington’s commitment, to airing multiple perspectives on controversial and timely issues...SID-Washington’s proven ability to assemble diverse groups and fine minds to discuss and debate important issues with passion and mutual respect is an enormous contribution.

-Larry Cooley, President, Management Systems International

Tessie San Martin

Tessie San Martin, PhD, MPA is the CEO of Plan USA. Previously, Dr. San Martin was the Group Vice President for International at Abt Associates Inc. Dr. San Martin oversaw all the technical assistance, policy research and strategic business consulting provided by Abt Associates to its clients overseas. The International Line of Business main clientele includes bilateral development agencies, such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department for International Development (DfID) in the UK, as well as leading multilateral institutions, such as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank Group. Prior to assuming the responsibilities of Group VP, Dr. San Martin led the Groups strategic planning, new business development and mergers and acquisitions functions. Before joining Abt Associates, Dr. San Martin was Partner in charge of PricewaterhouseCoopers(PwC) International Financing Institutions (IFI) practice, and oversaw a team of 100 staff working in over 40 countries. In 2003, she moved to a senior management position in the World Bank Group's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). As the Director of Operations in MIGA, she helped develop the agency's strategy to grow private investment in infrastructure and establish new processes for underwriting political risk. She also oversaw the development of new technical assistance and political risk insurance tools to support greater private sector involvement in high risk and investment-starved conflict-afflicted countries. Dr. San Martin has a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University, a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard s Kennedy School of Government and a BS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.